Collapsible-tube-closing apparatus



H; a. LERMER COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSING APPARATUS Jan. `19 1926.

Filed Feb.V 12, 1925 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

, #UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN B. LERMER, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HYGIENIC CO., OFNEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

COLLAPSIBLETUBECLOSING APPARATUS.

Application led February 12,` 1925. Serial `No. 8,616.

To all when t may concern: j

Be it known that I, HERMAN B. LERMER, a citizen of the United States,residing in Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible-TubeClosingApparatus, of which the following is a specifcation.`

This invention relates to apparatus for folding, flattening andfastening the seam at the rear or base end of collapsible tubes and hasas its main object to provide a simple hand operated device for foldingthe juxtaposed edges of a tube to form an elongated bight at oneoperation, the device being further provided with means whereby, at asecond operation, the fold may be flattened to produce a hermeticallyclosed joint or seam.

A. further feature is in the provision of mean-s for performing the dualoperation, of folding and flattening in a single apparatus, in producinga neat appearing and effective closure, in a practical and rapid mannerand with a moderate expenditure of physical effort.

These and other important aims and objects are attained by the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter describedand shown in the annexed drawing, constituting an essential portion ofthis disclosure and in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,ready for operation.

Figure`2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional, partial plan view thereof, the sectionbeing taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4L is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 1f-Jlof Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the first operation inseaming a collapsible tube.

Figure 7 is a similarview of the second operation, showing the tube endas folded as indicated in Figure 1.

Figure S is another like view showing the tube end as completed.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the numeral 10 designates astand base, from which rises a column 11, curved at its upper endtowards the front and blended into a vertical cylindrical guide 12 splitlon gitudinally at the front and having pairs of lugs 13 adapted toreceive clamp screws 14 by which the bore of the guide 12 may beslightly adjusted to com ensate for` wear.

A plunger' 15 is slida ly mounted in the guide, its upper end beingfinished convexly, as at 16, and passing through the upper portion ofthe plunger is a in 17 acting to receive the thrust of a coiledcompression spring 18 resting on the top of the guide, encircling theplunger and exerting pressure to raise the same. j V

A pair of lugs 19 extend upward from the column 11, above and rearwardof the guide 127 and mounted between the lugs is a handle lever 20,pivoted on a pin 21 and having a curved, forwardly extending portion 22disposed in such manner as to engage the curved end 16 of the plungerand depress the same when the lever is raised.

The base 10 is provided with opening 23 through which may be passedscrews or equivalent fastening to secure the stand rigidly `upon asupport.

At the front of the base 10 is a block extending across from side toside and held infixed position by screws 25 passed up through the baseas shown.

This block is a parallelogram in shape, having a level upper surface andbevelled at its front upper corner as at 26, the left hand portion beingrounded as at 27, thus blending the upper surface and angular edgesmoothly.,

On the right hand 'side of the block is a i longitudinal groove 28,having slightly converging sides and being smoothly finished, the otherside of the block being smooth and level as at 29, presenting an anvilsurface.

Stops 30 are held to the ends of the block by screws 31, alining withthe groove 28 and surface 29 respectively, and rearward of the grooveand surface are guide strips 32 and 33 having transverse slots throughwhich pass clamp screws 34permitting individual afjustment relative tothe frontof the block.

Fixed centrally in the lower end of the plunger is a flat rectangularbar 35 substantially equivalent in length with the block 24, one of thelower level edges 36 being adapted to make contact with the surface 2!)at the left hand portion of the block, and

the right hand'portion of the block is formed to present a relativelynarrow edge 37, extending belon the surface 36 and adapted to enter thegroove 2S upon actuation of the lever 20.

ln operation, the plunger l5 being held by the spring to retain the barin a raised position, a lilled collapsible tube 40 is held b v hand sothat its end atl closed by flattening, makes contact with the guide 32over the groove 253, the stop 3l) assuring the correct position ol thetube.

llvhen the tube is thus positioned the hand lever 2l) operated, forcingthe bar element 25T downward and. as shown in Figure at, forming atransverse imlentation entirely across the end ol the tube andell'ecting the first operation in folding, the tube assruning the shape.shown in Figure T.

The second operation is performed by moving the tube lll to the leltover the anvil surface 2f), again actuating the hand lever, bringing thehammer element 3G forcibly downward, as in Figure 5, closing the seamand completing the closing operation, the linished tube appearing inFigure 8.

lt is also to bc noted that a clasp or clip 4Q ot generally U shapedcross section, is shown in Figures (3, T and 8, as applied over theflattened and closed end ot' the tube, the clip being ot thin yieldingsheet material, as aluminum, making close contact withv the walls ot'the tube, acting as a re-entorcement and clamp for the saine, the clipbeing bent lengthwise over the tube, in the manner indicated, allordinga lirm and secure closure, preventing the. possibilit-y of air ormoisture leakage.

Although the foregoing is descriptive ol* the prelierred embodiment otthe invention, minor cln'lnges may be made in its constructionwithout,eonllicting with the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as nevv and desire tosecure by Letters latent, is:-

l. A portable seaming apparatus` l'or elosing collapsible tube endscomprising a stand, a spring supported plunger slidable therein, a diebloclt on said stand, lsaid block having a narroiv longitudinal groove,a bar carried by said plunger to indent the tube end by pressing it intothe groove, and a manually operable lever to actuate said plunger.

2. it portable seaming apparatus t'or closingcollapsible tube endscomprising a stand, a spring supported plunger slidable therein, a diebloei; on said stand, said block havingl a narron' longitudinal groovein one portion thereof and a level surface on an adjacent portion, ahorizontal bar carried by said plunger, said bar having a part adaptedto enter the groove in said block and another partI to make contact withthe level surface thereof, and a hand lever tor directly actu ating saidplunger.

8. A portable seaming apparatus i'or closing collapsible tube endscomprising a stand, a plunger slidable therein, a die bloeit on saidstand, said bloeit having a narron longitudinal groove in one portionthercot and a level surface on an adjacent portion, the l'ront edge olsaid bloeit being bcvellcu throughout the length and curved to blendwith the level upper surface. a horizontal bar arried by said plunger,said bar having a part adapted to enter the groove in said block andanotherl part to malte contact uith the level surlace thereol,indeiiendeut means adjustable on said blocli to guide a tube in registerwith the groove and tor adjusting a tube upon the level portion ol saidblock, a spring normally raising said plunger, and manual means fordeprcsriing the plunger.

Al. it portable scaming apparatus for indenting and lolding collapsibletube ends comprising upper and lower dies arranged in pairs, one oit'the pairs l'n'csenting respectively tongue and groove formation adaptedto indent and initially told the llattened end of a tube, and the otherpair presenting llat surfaces to flatten and linish the lfold, and asingle means 't'or actuating said upper dies.

5. A portable apparatus lor sealing collapsible tubes having llattenedends enveloped in clasps, comprising a stationary stand having a dieblock on its upper surface, a plunger slidably mounted in said stand,said plunger being nornn'llly spring pre sed away lrom .said bloeit, ahand lever to depress said plunger, a die bar tired to the plunger toextend over the block, an anvil surface on one side olf said bloeit, alongitudinal groove in the other side thereof. said block having abevellcd troni edge a hammer element on said bar to contact with theanvil surface, a projecting die member on said bar cooperal ive with thegroove to produce a transverse Al'old in the end ol" a tube and itsclasp, the told thus produced being llattened between the hannner andanvil surlace and independently adjustable gages :t'or each operation.

This speeilicatiou signed this 10th day olf lvebruary, 1925.

HERMAN ll. LICRMEH.

Utl

